Mar 13 2020
Piedmont CIP Review Committee Behind-the-Scenes Tours of City Facilities Postponed –
TO CHECK FOR RESCHEDULED MEETINGS CONTACT:
Nancy Kent, Parks & Project Manager, via email at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov or phone at (510) 420-3064.
The CIP Review Committee tours scheduled for Saturday, March 21, to discuss Piedmont’s Essential Services buildings, and Saturday, April 4, to discuss the state of recreation related infrastructure, are postponed.
The City will offer the CIP Review Committee and members of the public rescheduled tours of the current facilities to better understand the challenges and limitations of the City’s aging infrastructure.
The dates for the rescheduled tours have not been determined at this time.
—– MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC —-
Over the next six weeks, Piedmont’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Review Committee will host three Saturday meetings with behind-the-scenes tours of City facilities not often seen by members of the public (POSTPONED). There will also be six discussion/decision meetings. See schedule below.
Tours and meetings are not broadcast, however they are open to public participation.
In addition to the customary tour of resident proposals on April 25 , the CIP Review Committee will hold two additional Saturday (POSTPONED) meetings with comprehensive tours to provide the community with a better and broader understanding of the City’s aging public infrastructure.
On Saturday, March 21, (POSTPONED) the CIP Review Committee will meet at 9:00 am in the Police Department Conference Room to discuss Piedmont’s Essential Services buildings which include the Fire Department, the Police Department, and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
After Police Chief Jeremy Bowers and Fire Chief Bret Black make presentations and answer questions from the CIP Review Committee, there will be group tours of both the Police and Fire Departments as well as the basement of City Hall.
Please note that the meetings and tours are geared toward residents age 16 and older, and are not to be confused with a Piedmont Fire Department Open House.
On Saturday, April 4, (POSTPONED) the CIP Review Committee will meet at the Recreation Department at 9:00 am to discuss the state of recreation related infrastructure including the Piedmont Community Pool, the Recreation Department building, Veterans Hall, Linda Beach Park and Coaches Field.
After a brief summary presentation, the CIP Review Committee and members of the public will have the opportunity to explore the current facilities to better understand the challenges and limitations of the City’s aging infrastructure.
The City of Piedmont and the CIP Review Committee encourage residents to participate in this rare opportunity and hope that the meetings and tours are well-attended by members of the public.
If you have questions regarding the CIP tours or meeting schedule, please contact Nancy Kent, Parks & Project Manager, via email at nkent@piedmont.ca.gov or phone at (510) 420-3064.
2020 CIP Review Committee Schedule
Tue 3/10 7:00 pm (COMPLETED) Regular Meeting PPD EOC 403 Highland Avenue Public Safety
Sat 3/21 9:00 am (POSTPONED) Regular Meeting PPD EOC 403 Highland Avenue and Essential Services Community Tours
Tue 3/24 7:00 pm (CANCELLED) Regular Meeting City Hall 120 Vista Avenue Recreation Facilities Conference Room
Tue 3/31 7:00 pm (CANCELLED) Regular Meeting City Hall 120 Vista Avenue Resident Proposals Conference Room
Sat 4/4 9:00 am (POSTPONED) Regular Meeting PRD 358 Hillside Avenue and Recreation Related Community Tours Schedule:
- 9:15 am PRD Rec Dept. Attic to Basement – 358 Hillside Avenue
- 9:45 am Piedmont Community Pool – 777 Magnolia Avenue
- 10:30 am Veterans Hall – 401 Highland Avenue
- 11:15 am Linda Beach Park – 400 Linda Avenue
- 12 Noon Coaches Field – 898 Red Rock Road
Tue 4/7 7:00 pm (CONTINUING) Regular Meeting City Hall 120 Vista Avenue Resident Proposals Conference Room
Tue 4/21 7:00 pm (CONTINUING) Regular Meeting City Hall 120 Vista Avenue Conference Room
Sat 4/25 9:00 am (CONTINUING) Regular Meeting and Tour Details TBA
Members of the public can continue to remain informed regarding mass gatherings by reviewing California Department of Health’s Guidance on Mass Gatherings. The City is asking members of the public to considering these Steps to Prevent Illness when deciding whether to attend any City meeting.
Garrett Keating
My recommendation for story poles was somewhat facetious but given that the city won’t alert neighbors with a simple 3 x 5 postcard, what’s a neighborhood to do?
This requirement to not notify neighbors of ADU applications comes from City Attorney Kenyon and not planning staff. Kenyon said there is no legal prohibition to notify neighbors but in her opinion it would be “Draconian” to do so. Instead she implied the community would be better served through direct neighbor to neighbor communication. That position is logically flawed – such dialogue is best established through notification and without that requirement many of these neighbor to neighbor exchanges won’t happen and if they do, it will be after the fact.
More likely her position is self-serving – City Hall doesn’t want to take the phone calls from neighbors about these projects. Recall Maxwellton. No doubt it will be frustrating to have to deal with irate neighbors who aren’t aware of the ministerial ADU process, but that comes with the job. City Hall prides itself on customer service, but maybe it should think more about public service when it comes to ADUs.
Thanks to Councilwoman Cavenaugh and Planning Commissioner Levine for pushing for public notice.
Rick Schiller
A thanks to both Councilmember Jen Cavanaugh and Planning Commission Chair Jonathan Levine for their efforts to bring a wider community involvement to this important issue and resident notification.
My takeaway is based on the comment by City Attorney Kenyon near the end of the ADU Council discussion last night when Jen’s request for minimal resident notification was shot down. City Attorney Kenyon replied that the City is now in compliance. Is Piedmont the last out of compliance City? Highly doubtful. The State ADU Housing Guidelines, assuming the recently passed series of ADU legislations, is only a month away. (City Planner Mike Henn presented this information to Council last night.) Being out of compliance might bring a State letter, but Piedmont is far away from being sued by the State and would have everything in place to immediately pass ordinances to be in compliance once the compliance criteria are known.
I would like to have more resident notification and involvement with a Town Hall type meeting for the new ADU ordinances and guidelines. Council indicated they will treat the new Chapter 17 modifications and ADU Design Guidelines as living documents that can be amended as needed. Hopefully this will be done with the same swiftness as the very recent ADU implementations have been.